Antonov arrest not a distraction for Norris

Neil Allen

David Norris insists Pompey’s players have not been distracted by the current off-the-field problems.

Uncertainty is engulfing the club following Vladimir Antonov’s arrest on suspicion of fraud and money laundering.

The Blues chairman is wanted in Lithuania as part of an investigation into claims involving Snoras Bank.

As the majority shareholder in Convers Sports Initiatives (CSI), that has thrown question marks over the company’s Fratton Park involvement.

In the meantime, both CSI and Pompey remain tight-lipped. Despite the uncertainty, Pompey secured a creditable 1-1 draw with Leicester at the weekend.

Only the brilliance of Foxes keeper Kasper Schmeichel prevented boss Michael Appleton from grabbing a win on his first match at Fratton Park.

But while all pre-match talk involved the Antonov issue, Norris – who netted on Saturday – is adamant the Blues players have not been distracted. And they have been reassured matters will not affect the club.

Norris said: ‘It hasn’t really been a distraction at all at the moment.

‘It was only a couple of days before the (Leicester) game when things developed. But we haven’t heard anything different to anyone else at all.

‘For us it is just business as usual. We have been told it will not affect the football club, so we’ll just get on with it.

‘We’ll just see how it goes.’

The likes of Hayden Mullins, Hermann Hreidarsson and Jamie Ashdown are well-versed with Pompey off-the-field problems. However, it remains to be the seen what the outcome will be following the recent developments.